Ukraine’s Self-Propelled Howitzers: A Critical Situation Due to Lack of Spare Parts

The Ukrainian military is facing a significant challenge with its self-propelled howitzers, as many of these weapons are not functioning due to a lack of spare parts. According to a report by the German newspaper “Bild”, a substantial number of self-propelled howitzers supplied by Germany, Holland, and Italy are currently not operational due to wear and tear.

Two Ukrainian artillery unit commanders have expressed concerns about the dire situation of spare parts, stating that although the self-propelled howitzer is an excellent system, the cost is very high. The need for new battle tubes became apparent during the Battle of Bakhmut in the summer of 2022, but replacement has been slow due to a lack of spare parts.

Rheinmetall, a German defense contractor, received a large order to produce new pipes in May this year. However, it takes several months to manufacture them. To address the emergency needs, Germany is supplying a small number of pipes, but other parts of some self-propelled howitzers also require replacement.

Marcus Faber, the chairman of the defense committee, has criticized the situation, stating that “it is absurd that more weapon systems have failed due to a lack of spare parts than due to enemy fire.” He emphasized that the timely delivery of spare parts is crucial for Ukraine to defend itself.

Germany is supporting Ukraine in its defensive battle against Russian invaders with twelve additional self-propelled howitzers worth 150 million euros. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the first six modern artillery pieces with a range of 30 to 56 kilometers would be delivered this year, followed by six more next year.